Valentine’s Day Gifts for the Baker
Baking is a passion and since Valentine’s Day is all about love, enthusiasm, and devotion, why not consider a gift this year that expresses the same sentiment but in a different way to those who rely on the oven to work their magic? Bakers put a lot of effort into having the right tools, bowls, pans, and appliances to bring their creations to fruition but with the constant introduction of new products, there’s always something a baker needs (as opposed to wants), including: Read more 
Shotwell Candy Co. Caramels
Most caramel makers don’t try twelve different butters (before deciding which one to use) or heat pure cane sugar to temperatures above 320 degrees to create an authentic caramel flavor but Shotwell Candy Co. does. One bite into a buttery rich, creamy and chewy Shotwell caramel and you’re hooked, destined to become a member of a small group of friendly but committed caramel snobs who really can taste the difference between a caramel made the old-fashioned way (by hand) with high quality ingredients and the commercially made caramels made with artificial flavors. Read more
Somersaults®
Most people think somersaults are for the young, but a healthy new snack food called Somersaults® is for anyone who has come full circle and now wants a nutrient-dense delicious crunchy snack for themselves and their families. Made primarily of sunflower seeds and toasted grains, Somersaults® come in five flavors:
- Original Pacific Sea Salt
- Dutch Cocoa
- Cinnamon Crunch
- Salty Pepper
- Santa Fe Salsa
That’s It® Fruit Bars
Nature knows best. ~Mother Nature
For those who want all the taste and nutrition of fruit but don’t have easy access to an apple, banana, pear, strawberries, cherries, apricots, blueberries, or pineapple – or find transporting fresh fruit difficult – consider a That’s It® bar: a product made of natural, non-GMO fruit and nothing else. Just two fruits in each bar; that’s it, really. Read more
Chocolate Hearts
I’d rather have chocolate on my table than diamonds on my neck.
Nothing says “Happy Valentine’s Day” quite like a box of chocolates especially when the confection is in the shape of a heart. Rich dark or creamy milk chocolate hearts neatly placed in a gift box or covered in shiny red foil are not only lovely to look at but a delight to unwrap and enjoy. For the adventurer, a ganache or praline filled chocolate heart may also be the perfect gift. Whatever the preference, choose among the many chocolate options by some of the best: Read more
“The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry”
A question I’ve thought about a great deal is why it is so much easier to write about the things we dislike/hate/acknowledge to be flawed than the things we love.
In The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, author Gabrielle Zevin introduces A.J. Fikry, a 39-year old grumpy man whose pleasures in life are few. Recently widowed, A.J. finds himself running Island Books, a 700 square foot independent bookstore in a purple Victorian house on Alice Island, off the Massachusetts coastline (seems vaguely familiar to Oak Bluffs in Martha’s Vineyard), without the warm touch of his wife, Nic, who was killed in a tragic car accident (is there any other kind?). Read more
Bare™ Organic Apple Chips
Bare™ Organic Apple Chips are all natural crunchy organic baked apple chips that are as naked as the days in which they were grown. That’s the beauty of apple chips in the buff – naturally delicious. Simplicity at it’s best. Using organic Fuji and Granny Smith apples, Bare™ created a delicious undressed snack food that delivers flavor and texture in a nutritious snack with no preservatives, artificial colors, or preservatives. Read more
What’s in a Chicken McNugget?
At McDonald’s, we take great care to serve quality, great-tasting menu items to our customers each and every time they visit our restaurants.
Most people think a Chicken McNugget is chicken with breading but a look at the ingredient’s list reveals a different story. McDonald’s publishes an up-to-date list (www.nutrition.mcdonalds.com) of ingredients in their menu items which reveals a Chicken McNugget contains at least 37 ingredients: Read more
The Return of the Peppermint Patty
Fasten your seat belt, ma’am. Here I come again! ~Peppermint Patty
The peppermint patty – a dark chocolate enrobed peppermint candy – was first introduced nearly 75 years ago by the York Cone Company. Back then (before synthetic peppermint oil was invented and patented), the York Peppermint Patty was known for its crisp texture and contrasting flavors: bitter dark chocolate and sugar-sweetened peppermint center. Read more
10 Kitchen Tips for My Younger Self
When I was 23 years old, I was asked to bring a dessert to a pot-luck luncheon at work so I decided to bring a homemade cheesecake. The night before, I got home from work late and didn’t have time to bring the cream cheese to room temperature so I took the 6 bars of Philadelphia Cream Cheese out of the refrigerator and proceeded to make the cake only to be asked the next day what the white clumps in my cheesecake were. Not one of my better baking moments but one I’ve never forgotten because I eventually learned that certain ingredients have to be at room temperature to blend properly. Read more
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